Best options when you break or damage your iPhone screen

Every iPhone user’s biggest fear is the thought of dropping their phone and seeing it break. When it happens, it can feel like an absolute disaster. It’s not the end of the world, though, and there are several things you can do. Here are a few options for you.

DIY Repair

Depending on the damage, and how handy you are with DIY, you can repair a broken screen yourself. Use a screwdriver to unpin the existing filter and then fix it on a replacement.
There are a couple of caveats, though. Firstly, replacing the screen yourself will disable True Tone – this is a feature that adjusts the color temperature of the display based on the light around you. It’s not the essential feature, but something to keep in mind.
Secondly, as soon as you do this, your manufacturer’s warranty will be voided. Therefore, if you wanted to use that warranty to get repairs done in the future, you won’t be allowed.

Independent Repair Shops

Take a walk down around a shopping mall, and you’re bound to see a smartphone repair shop or kiosk. These can sometimes fix your screen for a lower price than Apple.
The cost depends on what model of phone you have.

For example, if you have an older model (iPhone 8 or earlier), then the cost of buying a replacement screen from an independent store will be less than the cost of Apple’s repair.
However, if you have one of the newer models – particularly anything from the iPhone X, right through to the recent iPhone 11 Pro Max – it will be cheaper to get it repaired by Apple. That is more important than ever, as recently Apple issued a support document for people buying iPhone 11 and later – warning them to use an official Apple technician to repair or replace damaged displays.
So, that’s the safer approach, and leads us nicely onto the next option!

Apple Repair

Every iPhone comes with a free AppleCare warranty – however, this doesn’t cover accidental damage such as cracked screens. Therefore, you’ll have to pay Apple to fix your phone.
That can be around $149 for older phones like the iPhone 7 and 8, but that cost goes up as the phone gets bigger and more complex—up to $329 for the iPhone 11 Pro Max.
However, if you get the AppleCare+ warranty, this does cover accidental damage. It means you will only need to pay $29 to get an iPhone repaired.
Naturally, there is an upfront cost to this – it is $199 to get AppleCare+ in the first place. Still, depending on the model, that up-front cost will save you money even if you crack your screen just once in those two years.

Mail-in repairs

These are only likely to be suitable for people who live in far-flung places where repair shops are hard to come by. You post your iPhone to a service center, and once repaired, it gets posted back to you.
That is usually a cheaper option, and as the technicians aren’t under enormous time pressure, they take great care with each phone they receive. However, the downside is the length of time you’ll be without a phone – returns can take a week or more.

Come-to-you repairs

Come-to-you repairs wouldn’t have been on a list like this a few years ago but are now one of the newer options on the market.
As the name suggests, these are companies that will send a highly-skilled, certified technician directly to you. They’ll repair your iPhone on the spot, in much the same way as some Apple Genius technicians will. However, rather than you having to stand around the mall all day, you can stay in the comfort of your own home or office. That reduces disruption to your routine and often works out at a similar cost to some of the other options listed.

Some people are happy to pay a little bit more anyway, due to the convenience it offers.
Of course, nobody wants to be in this situation, so the best advice is to take good care of your iPhone. However, we all know that accidents can happen. Hopefully, by reading this article, you’ll see there are many different avenues you can take if your iPhone does break. If you want to sell your broken phone, you should visit bingbongtec.com.

About Emmanuel Sanson